Abstract

Objective— In view of the possible link between serum sialic acid and cardiovascular disease in the general population, we investigated whether serum total and lipid-associated sialic concentrations are elevated in NIDDM patients compared with normal subjects. We also investigated how sialic acid levels relate to glycemic control, blood pressure, microalbuminuria, retinopathy, and serum lipid levels.

Research Design and Methods— We selected 20 NIDDM patients at random and matched them for age and sex with 20 normal subjects. The patients also had a similar BMI as the control subjects. A first morning blood sample was taken for sialic acid, glucose, fructosamine, and lipid analysis, as was a first morning urine sample for assessment of microalbuminuria. Retinopathy was assessed by fundoscopy.

Conclusions— Total serum sialic acid levels were significantly elevated in a relatively small group of NIDDM patients and were correlated with hypertension and retinopathy. A larger study of circulating sialic acid concentrations as a risk factor for the development or marker of diabetic angiopathy is therefore justified.